Tubular sanitary sight indicator

Abstract

A sanitary sight indicator for viewing the contents of a production process is provided. The sanitary sight indicator includes a body, an optical unit, and a sanitary connection between the body and the optical unit. The body includes a process-interfacing portion which is adapted to interface with the production process and an optical-interfacing portion which interfaces with the optical unit. The optical unit includes a viewing portion for viewing the contents of the production process and a body-interfacing portion which interfaces with the optical-interfacing portion of the body. The sanitary connection includes a sanitary gasket having a substantially flat annular portion, and first and second annular projections which are approximately semi-circular in cross-sectional shape and which extend outwardly from opposite sides of the annular portion. The sanitary connection further includes a sanitary gasket-groove in each of the optical unit-interfacing portion and the body-interfacing portion. Each of the sanitary-gasket grooves includes a flat surface supporting the flat annular portion of the sanitary gasket and a channel supporting one of the annular projections of the sanitary gasket. Such a sight indicator may be in the form of a "sight flow indicator" for installation in a process line or a "sight window" for installation on a process tank.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sanitary tubular sight indicator for viewing the contents of a production process, said indicator comprising a body having first and second head members, an elongated optical unit, a sanitary connection between said first head member and said optical unit, and a coupling device for connecting said body and said optical unit together; said first head member including a first process-interfacing portion which is adapted to interface with the production process and a first optical-interfacing portion which interfaces with said optical unit;   said optical unit including a viewing portion for viewing the contents of the production process and a first body-interfacing portion which interfaces with said first optical-interfacing portion of said first head member;   said sanitary connection including a sanitary gasket including a substantially flat annular portion, and first and second annular projections which are essentially semi-circular in cross-sectional shape and which extend outwardly from opposite sides of said annular portion;   said sanitary connection further including a sanitary gasket-groove in each of said first optical unit-interfacing portion and said first body-interfacing portion, each of said sanitary gasket-grooves including a flat surface supporting said flat annular portion of said sanitary gasket and a channel supporting one of said first and second annular projections of said sanitary gasket; wherein said first process-interfacing portion of said first head member is adapted to interface with a process line.     
     
     
       2. A sanitary tubular sight indicator as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a second sanitary connection between said second head member and said optical unit; said second head member including a second process-interfacing portion which is adapted to interface with the production process and a second optical-interfacing portion which interfaces with said optical unit;   said optical unit including a second body-interfacing portion which interfaces with said second optical-interfacing portion of said second head member;   said second sanitary connection including a second sanitary gasket including a substantially flat annular portion, and first and second annular projections which are essentially semi-circular in cross-sectional shape and which extend outwardly from opposite sides of said annular portion;   said second sanitary connection further including a second sanitary gasket-groove in each of said second optical unit-interfacing portion and said second body-interfacing portion, each of said sanitary gasket-grooves including a flat surface supporting said flat annular portion of said sanitary gasket and a channel supporting one of said first and second annular projections of said sanitary gasket; wherein said second process-interfacing portion of said second head member is adapted to interface with the process line.     
     
     
       3. A sanitary sight indicator as set forth in claim 2 wherein said viewing portion of said optical unit is cylindrical in shape and has an axial dimension greater than its radial dimension. 
     
     
       4. A sanitary sight indicator as set forth in claim 3 wherein said body-interfacing portions of said optical unit comprise flanged end portions positioned at opposite ends of said viewing portion. 
     
     
       5. A sanitary sight indicator as set forth in claim 4 wherein said optical unit is made of borosilicate glass and wherein said flanged end portions are integrally molded with said viewing portion. 
     
     
       6. A sanitary sight indicator as set forth in claim 3 wherein said optical unit is made of a rigid transparent material. 
     
     
       7. A sanitary sight flow indicator as set forth in claim 6 wherein said optical unit is made of a material selected from a group consisting of borosilicate glass, acrylic, and polycarbonate. 
     
     
       8. A sanitary sight indicator as set forth in claim 6 wherein said body-interfacing portions of said optical unit comprise substantially co-planar extensions of said viewing portion. 
     
     
       9. A sanitary sight indicator as set forth in claim 6 wherein said body comprises a pair of head members which are essentially identical and which each include a process-interfacing portion and an optical unit-interfacing portion. 
     
     
       10. A sanitary sight indicator as set forth in claim 9 wherein said body is made of stainless steel. 
     
     
       11. A sanitary sight indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sanitary gasket is made of an approved sanitary gasket material. 
     
     
       12. A sanitary sight indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sanitary gasket is made of a material selected from the group consisting of Buna N, EPDM, Viton, PTFE, Silicone, and Polyethylene. 
     
     
       13. A sanitary sight indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said optical unit comprises a window assembly including a frame which is made of a stainless steel of low coefficient of thermal expansion and a transparent insert which is arranged within said frame and which is made of a glass having a coefficient of thermal expansion not greater than that of said frame. 
     
     
       14. A sanitary sight indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said optical unit comprises a window assembly made of a transparent plastic material, said window assembly including a central region which forms said viewing portion and a circumferential border therearound which includes said body-interfacing portion. 
     
     
       15. A sanitary sight indicator as set forth in any of claims 2-10, 13, or 14 wherein said sanitary gasket is made of an approved sanitary gasket material. 
     
     
       16. A sanitary sight indicator as set forth in any of claims 2-14 10, 13, or 14 wherein said sanitary gasket is made of a material selected from the group consisting of Buna N, EPDM, Viton, PTFE, Silicone, and Polyethylene.